Insight into music's future and past

Se Live asked music guru Eric Karlish to predict the future and reflect on the past. Karlish, who works at Pmac Music in Cape Girardeau, gave us five albums to look for in the new year and five albums every music fan should have in their collection.

Upcoming for 2012 (all dates and titles TBA unless noted):

Muse: The band claims to be making a heavy rock lullaby for their follow up to 2009's "Resistance."

Soundgarden: The Seattle legend's first album since 1996. Look for this one later in the year.

Slash-Slash: It's getting away from the multisinger format that he employed on his self-titled release. With Alter Bridge on hold for 2012, Myles Kennedy is free to sing for Slash-Slash full time this year.

Dierks Bentley, "Home": Even though he's only had a two-year gap between records, it feels like it's been forever. Sure to be a big summertime disc.

Paul McCartney: Macca promises big-time guests on this one.

And now some essential oldies but goodies:

Rolling Stones, 'Some Girls'

There isn't a single bad cut on the last of the truly great Stones albums. 1978 may have belonged to punk and disco, but these perceived rock dinosaurs proved that big, grand rock and roll could still be relevant. It's now available as a two-disc set featuring outtakes from the 1978 sessions.

Dire Straits, 'Dire Straits'

The debut album features a strong J.J. Cale influence. It's not nearly as languid as their other albums, either.

Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan, 'In Session'

Two generations of blues legends teamed up for a live recording in 1983. It leans heavy on King material, but SRV still smokes. The DVD of this performance is now available, too.

Dr. Dre, 'The Chronic'

Most rap and hip-hop from the early 1990s has not aged well. This West Coast classic seems to have improved as its influence becomes clearer with time.

Chuck Berry, 'Gold'

All of the singles that defined rock are on this two-disc set. This collection proves that there was more than one person who could lay claim to the title of "king of rock and roll."